so we need a law several levels of help to come and help. >> reporter: those seriously injured have been air-lifted to the provincial capital. the military has distributed tons of food, medicines and hundreds of tents - but the earthquake has left thousands homeless. >> residents are huddling outdoors in a town near the epicenter of a powerful earthquake that struck the steep hills of china's southwestern sichuan province. saturday morning's earthquake injured more than 6,700 people and left at least 160 people dead. and more are feared dead. the six-point-six quake triggered landslides and disrupted phone and power connections. one village was also hit hard, with authorities saying nearly all the buildings there had been destroyed in a the minute- long shaking by the quake. the earthquake administration said there had been at least 712 aftershocks, including two of magnitude-5.0 or higher. >> officials say that the area impacted by the fertilizer plant explosion in west texas is safe. city council member steve vanek says that the first wave of residents should be allowed to move back in